Chef Jeff Henderson, an award-winning chef with his own Food Network show, will be making appearances in Birmingham in support of sickle cell disease research. (Special)

The way chef Jeff Henderson grills a juicy Cornish hen coated with a cilantro-pesto rub is enough to make you want to grab a knife and fork.

And that's just off television.

"Let me tell you one thing about Cornish hens, they are a lot more juicer than your average chicken," the Las Vegas-based chef said this summer on the "Today" show before placing a plump hen on a hot grill.

"Let it sizzle. Let it talk to you a little bit," he said. "As it finishes up, you put this very light maple sauce on there."

Henderson, 45, is an award-winning chef with his own Food Network show, "The Chef Jeff Project; wrote the 2008 cookbook, "Chef Jeff Cooks" with more than 150 of his favorite recipes; runs a private dining company; and is in the process of negotiating and working on several shows for network television.

But probably what he's most known for is how he learned to cook. He was convicted of dealing drugs in California in the late '80s. He served 10 years in prison. During that time, he discovered a love for cooking after washing pots and pans and watching the cooks in the prison kitchen. Once released from prison, he worked hard to become a chef and make restaurants see him for more than an ex-convict.

"I learned how to cook in prison and my dream was one day to become a top chef and to give back to the communities all around the country," said Henderson, who became the first black chef de cuisine at Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas in 2001. He's also worked as executive chef at Cafe Bellagio.

On Saturday, Henderson will talk about the power of potential with a group of at-risk teenagers during a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. at Birmingham's Highland Conference Center, 2010 Magnolia Ave. South. Seating is limited and those interested must RSVP by calling 939-4599 or e-mailing russ@urbanham.com.

"My whole thing is motivating and inspiring and telling young people and adults alike, if one sacrifices, one works hard, one builds the right relationships, that anybody and everybody can participate in the American dream," Henderson said. "That's the core of my message."

BEST FOOD EVER
Chef Jeff Henderson, a married father of five, is one of several food stars and chefs to have appeared on the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." He shares three of the best things he's ever eaten:Harriett's Sweet Potato Cheesecake from Harriett's Cheesecake in Inglewood, Calif. "Amazing, fulfilling and tantalizing. It's off the chain," he said.Friendly's Fried Chicken. Named after Friendly Womack Jr., a prison mentor. Henderson's recipe is one he served up in prison as well as when he was executive chef at Cafe Bellagio in Las Vegas. It's in Henderson's cookbook, "Chef Jeff Cooks."His grandfather's gumbo. He likes its darkened roux, thick gravy, shrimp, okra, blue crab and sausages.

He earned his GED while in prison and was determined to soak up more education after that. As he did, he started to view the world differently. His values also changed.

"As my values began to change, I knew that I had the opportunity and the willpower like any other American to live the American dream," he said.

Henderson detailed his life in the 2007 New York Times best-seller, "Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras." Actor Will Smith bought the life rights to the book. The story is set to be made into a motion picture by the same team that made "The Pursuit of Happyness." They are now on the third script, Henderson said. Smith is expected to star in it.

"It's going to be an amazing movie, that hopefully, Will will be able to get that Oscar that's been eluding him for most of his film career," Henderson said.

Also, on Saturday, Henderson will appear at the Sickle Cell Disease Town Hall Forum at The Highland Conference Center to discuss healthy eating habits and do a cooking demonstration with fresh foods from the West End Community Garden and the farmer's market. His goal is to show how easy it is to make healthful foods with organic produce that is readily available in the community. The event is free.

Henderson said speaking out on sickle cell disease, which affects brown-skinned people, is a new initiative for him and he wants to help any way he can.

The forum, which will include different panels consisting of doctors, researchers, alternative medicine experts and sickle cell patients, will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Henderson's cooking demonstration will take place midway through the forum, said Tina Kay Hughes, one of the forum organizers.

On Monday, he will visit several United Food and Commercial Workers Union grocery stores to discuss healthful cooking and tapping into one's potential.

This will be the first time Henderson has visited the Birmingham area, which is also where his wife, Stacy Womack Henderson, was born. Her mother was the late Motown legend Mary Wells.

Good talk, good food

Russ McClinton, marketing director of the Highland Conference Center, said Henderson is a dynamic speaker who connects with people and makes good food.

When Henderson appeared on the "Today" show with those Cornish hens, he was competing in a barbecue challenge with two other chefs. A taste test declared him the winner.

Said Henderson: "I was once a kid who had low self-esteem (who) felt all I could do was hustle and sell drugs. But ... now, I brush shoulders, shake hands and have dinner with some very powerful people in this country.